Roots
I was out for a pint with my good friend Jim last weekend. He's from Anstruther, a small fishing village directly opposite us as we look across the Firth of Forth from North Berwick. When I say that he's from Anstruther, I don't just mean that he was born there. His mum and Dad were also both born there, all his uncles and aunts live within a 10 mile radius of Anstruther, and he is not aware of any ancestors that come from anywhere apart from Anstruther.
I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like to be so connected to a particular place (and to the fishing industry that was the lifeblood of the village). My Dad was from Mid-Wales, with parents from Mid-Wales and Shropshire, and my Mum is from Bradford in Yorkshire. I was born in the South of England and have lived in Scotland since 1983. Unsurprisingly, I struggle to answer the question "where are you from?"!
Of course, the scattering of my ancestors last century is happening to my friend's family now - he doesn't live in Fife, and his wife is not from Fife.
I wonder how common it is now to have such solid roots in one town or village?
I can't begin to imagine what it must feel like to be so connected to a particular place (and to the fishing industry that was the lifeblood of the village). My Dad was from Mid-Wales, with parents from Mid-Wales and Shropshire, and my Mum is from Bradford in Yorkshire. I was born in the South of England and have lived in Scotland since 1983. Unsurprisingly, I struggle to answer the question "where are you from?"!
Of course, the scattering of my ancestors last century is happening to my friend's family now - he doesn't live in Fife, and his wife is not from Fife.
I wonder how common it is now to have such solid roots in one town or village?